2008 Les Angelots de Gracia, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

This is the second wine of Gracia and is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This sample was drinking very well right now. Purple in color. The nose has black cherries, dark chocolate dust and slight coffee. Certainly no issues with getting ripe. The palate has light tannins. Some depth. Black cherry fruit over a dry earthiness. Good finish. This was not cheap; retailing at $85 compared to the First wines at around $135. But it is a very good wine. Should drink well for a decade as it matures. Probably won't get better.

Grade:

A-

Score:

Vintage:

2008

Current Price:

$85.00USD

Cheval Blanc: The “First Growth” of the Right Bank

When the wines of Bordeaux were classified in 1855 all of the wines were from the Left Bank of the Gironde River. In fact, with the exception of Haut Brion, which is from Graves, all of the wines classified were from the Medoc. Since that time, the winemaking areas of Bordeaux have greatly expanded. Some of the best wines in Bordeaux are now made on the Right Bank including some of the most expensive wines in the entire world. While there is no official classification system for all of Bordeaux, there can be no doubt that if such a system was implemented today, at least a few Right Bank wineries would make the list. Perhaps no winery deserves the mythical first growth of the Right Bank title more than Cheval Blanc. In fact, the wines of Saint Émilion, a commune on the Right Bank, were ranked in 1955 and Cheval Blanc was one of two that received the highest rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé (A). Those rankings were redone in 1969, 1986, and 1996 and most recently in 2006 (although that ranking is the subject of an ongoing legal dispute not relevant to Cheval Blanc) and Cheval Blanc has remained a First Growth in every subsequent ranking.

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Borgueil: The Unpronounceable, Unforgettable King of Cabernet Franc

When I think of wine that is interesting, unique, obscure, high-value, and small-production, I think of Borgueil – the small wine region in France’s Loire Valley that produces almost exclusively Cabernet Franc.

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2009 Arômes de Pavie, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2009

Score:

Grade:

B+

This is from the younger wines at Chateau Pavie (under 10 years old). It is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby in color. The nose has cherries with a bit of cigar box. On the palate, this is drinking well now. Nice cherry fruit with a bit of cocoa and slight tobacco. Not a lot of concentration or complexity but it is tasty. Good acidity. It seems as though this will be as good as this gets and thought it should do another five to ten years, the safer bet is to drink it now. It will go well with stews and medium weight foods.

2009 Château Faugères, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2009

Score:

Grade:

A-

Current Price:

$65.00USD

This is a blend of 85% Merlot.

2009 Château Fleur Cardinale, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

Vintage:

2009

Score:

Grade:

B+

Current Price:

$75.00USD

A blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky purple in color. The nose has black cherries with slight dill. On the palate, this has a pretty, soft texture. Black cherries with slight black olives. A slight complexity. Light tannins. This is open and drinking well. Very up front fruit. Moderate finish. This seems to be about as good a it will get. It should be at this level for five to ten more years. It will go well with roasted fowl and drinks easy on its own.

2008 Les Angelots de Gracia, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

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Cheval Blanc: The “First Growth” of the Right Bank

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2009 Arômes de Pavie, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

2009 Château Faugères, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review

2009 Château Fleur Cardinale, France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, Wine Review